Utilizing Contrast to Appreciate! (falling in love again)
Posted on May 21st, 2006
by 
flex22
flex22
This specific process came to my mind a couple of nights ago.Now I know that there is already a Rampage of Appreciation process from the Ask and it is Given book, but this one adds to an already awesome process, or rather it helps us to reach the Rampage of Appreciaton stage.I'm sure many of us have heard that prevalent saying "be thankful for what you've got." This process basically helps us to appreciate what we've got, things that we nearly always 'take for granted.'
Out there in the physical world there is a lot of stuff.All sorts of stuff, so much! power! out there, all at our fingertips.This process utilizes the power of contrast in order to truly appreciate what we have now!, which in turn brings more things to appreciate into our experience.Now some may take offence to this process, especially when practising this process I may say:
"It could have been that I was born in Africa, in poverty, but it wasn't that way, so I am grateful that I was born into a 'First World' affluent country that enjoys clean water from taps, an electricity supply, and a good transport system, and so on"
One who is filled with anger or frustration may read that and think to themselves "how lovely flex.Using other peoples misery to realise how fortunate you are and therefore become more and more fortunate.How about you actually think about how you can help those poor destitude people? huh!"
To which my reply would be: "calm down dear, you simply do not understand the laws of the Universe.Take a deep breath and let me explain :) "
People make many assumptions, based on no actual personal experience, let alone 'just on their personal experience!' Many people assume that all the people in the third world are utterly miserable and have no quality of life whatsoever, and certainly zero happiness in their lives.This is what I hear others saying all the time.They assume these people are destitute, when in reality many of them would be better off if we just didn't interfere at all.These angry people have never actually been to those countries they speak of so 'expertly' or spoken with people from those countries.But that doesn't matter to them, because they've read this stuff in books and know these 'facts' from the media.Or they do know of one example from personal experience, which of course means that is the way it is for everyone! So they've, erm, what's the word now, hmm.Ahh yes they've "disempowered" themselves! by thinking less than the best! How could I have possibly forgotten that word! hehe :D
My view of their 'poverty' is their view of my 'busy, fast paced, family breakups, 24 hour a day, devoid of morals society'
Ya know, all of that is totally cool! Everyones perspective is totally cool! We're all entitled to our own perspective on things, our own views, because that is our power! Angry people are cool with me, even with their assumptions.All I may ask them is "is that constant anger actually serving you and them?" Whether they wake up to the reality of the situation is up to them.
The guy in 'poverty' may say: "I could have been born into a first world country where many families are disfunctional, into a 24 hour culture, that has no one organized religion to keep everything in order.I cannot imagine the chaos and confusion of that.I am so grateful that I can plough my fields and practise my religion surrounded only by others who think the same, and have all of this peace and quiet, surrounded by a close knit community and family."
Can you see! We all have the power! everyone, everywhere! Of course if I feel that my view on something that I appreciate 'not being' may cause great offence to another (ie: the person who is that "being" lol), and their probably are! then I shall keep those to myself.I mean what's the point of putting it out there, in order to try and reconcile our differences.Just don't put it out there! easy! keep it to yourself, it's your power! I only put out examples here because I feel it is needed so that people understand the process and where it can take them.I saw that my Appreciaton Society would soon cause many things to need to be reconciled, therefore I decided to no longer use that.Basically now it is enough for me that I get this process out there.To practise it, write it out at a blog when you feel like it, and feel that it won't cause great offence.But first and foremost, feel it flow through you, just like Abraham Hicks says.You have to feel it, feel that appreciaton.It should never be hard work :)
So this process has four basic steps:
1. Look at something that is in your now, or think of something that you know you have that is in your now.Anything! that is 'real' something that you may just take for granted.Something that you are indifferent about, basically because you've never really thought much about the thing.
2. Think about a contrasting situation.Imagine not having that thing at all.Imagine being in a place where having that thing would not be possible.Ideally imagine a real place that you know of, that you've heard of through the media or read in a book.A place where they just do not have those things, it isn't practical for them to have those things, or they aren't allowed! those things by their governments, etc.Or perhaps their is someone you know who would really like that thing, but who doesn't have it yet.Use whichever way you find best.Only do this enough so that you have the contrast.No need to think on this for a long time, just enough so that you set yourself up for step 4.
3. Now come back to the now! and look again at that thing before you.
4. Fully appreciate the significance of that thing.Feel the appreciation flow though you.You have this thing in your now, and you LOVE IT! :D You're so grateful for having this thing, because you realise what it would be like if you didn't have it.And you know that some others do not have it, therefore you fully appreciate how fortunate you are.
Why this works!
This process works for me.I have been practising it for the last couple of days and found it to be very beneficial.Therefore I felt like sharing this on my blog.I think that this process is powerful because it deals with 'physical reality.' Now we know from Abraham Hicks, as well as others, that everything is just vibes, and that physical things are focused vibes.So when we imagine things, we're thinking those vibes into being, we're focusing them into being.But my way of thinking is this: Leverage the power! Use what has been focused into reality as a tool.What I mean is, sure it's ok to discount reality and live within your own vision, but also I think that that is missing a great opportunity.There are so many blessings around us, no matter who or where you are.Even in a hospital bed you can appreciate that their are people looking after you, and you can appreciate the bed you are lying on.It is simply changing the way we look at things.There are blessings everywhere, you just have to see them.For me it is easier to deal with reality, because there are things around me, physical things, and I have senses which are very responsive to these physical things.Now if you're not like that and you find it easier to live in your vision, you're totally zoned in to some 'other place' then fair enough, good luck to you.I'm sure there are people like that :)
For me though, the physical is a very powerful thing.Perhaps it's because of my Venus in Taurus, maybe so.
A final example
1. As I look out of my window I can see my garden below.
2. I look out over at my neighbours gardens.I can see that their gardens are more exposed to the elements than mine is.Some of the gardens are rather dull with no features.Some don't have any grass at all, just paving.
3. I look back at my garden.
4. I appreciate that my garden has many wonderful plants and flowers in it.I appreciate the luscious green grass that covers it.It has just poured down with rain here, so I know that'll make the grass even greener and the flowers even more magnificent.I also love the pond in our garden, built lovingly by my brother.The fish in the pond are very healthy as he looks after them well.They have magnificent colours of orange, red, white, yellow.Even from the third floor where I am now I can see them shining from the pond at the back of the garden.I love to sit by the pond and contemplate.The waterfall feature is extremely relaxing.Even at night when I go to bed, if I have the windows open I can hear the little waterfall.It's so nice to hear the trickling of water in the background, especially when meditating.Sure you can buy CD's recreating these sounds, but when it's 'real' it sounds so much better.Oh and I know that the fish will appreciate that downpour, as it adds oxygen to the water, so my brother tells me.The garden is situated so that it is also sheltered and much more private.People from neighbouring houses can't easily look in (accidentally or on purpose).I really appreciate that! :)
Ok, wow, I just had to stop myself there.Was going off on a rampage of appreciation (a good thing), hehe.And that's exactly my point! with this process.The first two steps are really just a setup.I have found that I don't need the first two steps after a while.I am able to just look at something and really feel appreciation for it, know it's significance and the value it adds to my life, without needing to even focus on the opposite of that.It is just that sense of knowing! how blessed I am, I'm in that flow, I have attracted more and more things to appreciate.Did I need to go down the street, knock on a neighbours door and tell them why I am glad I have my garden and not theirs? No, funnily enough I never felt compelled to do that.
Finally I would just like to add that all of the above may not do much for you.You may well not like my specific process or the steps, or whatever! To be honest I don't care if you liked them or not.The essence of the above post, and what I would like to think others take from it, is that I am doing what works for me! as you should do for you! Find what works for you, only you! :)
Find a way of 'falling in love again'...........and again.............and again.................:D
Cheers!
Out there in the physical world there is a lot of stuff.All sorts of stuff, so much! power! out there, all at our fingertips.This process utilizes the power of contrast in order to truly appreciate what we have now!, which in turn brings more things to appreciate into our experience.Now some may take offence to this process, especially when practising this process I may say:
"It could have been that I was born in Africa, in poverty, but it wasn't that way, so I am grateful that I was born into a 'First World' affluent country that enjoys clean water from taps, an electricity supply, and a good transport system, and so on"
One who is filled with anger or frustration may read that and think to themselves "how lovely flex.Using other peoples misery to realise how fortunate you are and therefore become more and more fortunate.How about you actually think about how you can help those poor destitude people? huh!"
To which my reply would be: "calm down dear, you simply do not understand the laws of the Universe.Take a deep breath and let me explain :) "
People make many assumptions, based on no actual personal experience, let alone 'just on their personal experience!' Many people assume that all the people in the third world are utterly miserable and have no quality of life whatsoever, and certainly zero happiness in their lives.This is what I hear others saying all the time.They assume these people are destitute, when in reality many of them would be better off if we just didn't interfere at all.These angry people have never actually been to those countries they speak of so 'expertly' or spoken with people from those countries.But that doesn't matter to them, because they've read this stuff in books and know these 'facts' from the media.Or they do know of one example from personal experience, which of course means that is the way it is for everyone! So they've, erm, what's the word now, hmm.Ahh yes they've "disempowered" themselves! by thinking less than the best! How could I have possibly forgotten that word! hehe :D
My view of their 'poverty' is their view of my 'busy, fast paced, family breakups, 24 hour a day, devoid of morals society'
Ya know, all of that is totally cool! Everyones perspective is totally cool! We're all entitled to our own perspective on things, our own views, because that is our power! Angry people are cool with me, even with their assumptions.All I may ask them is "is that constant anger actually serving you and them?" Whether they wake up to the reality of the situation is up to them.
The guy in 'poverty' may say: "I could have been born into a first world country where many families are disfunctional, into a 24 hour culture, that has no one organized religion to keep everything in order.I cannot imagine the chaos and confusion of that.I am so grateful that I can plough my fields and practise my religion surrounded only by others who think the same, and have all of this peace and quiet, surrounded by a close knit community and family."
Can you see! We all have the power! everyone, everywhere! Of course if I feel that my view on something that I appreciate 'not being' may cause great offence to another (ie: the person who is that "being" lol), and their probably are! then I shall keep those to myself.I mean what's the point of putting it out there, in order to try and reconcile our differences.Just don't put it out there! easy! keep it to yourself, it's your power! I only put out examples here because I feel it is needed so that people understand the process and where it can take them.I saw that my Appreciaton Society would soon cause many things to need to be reconciled, therefore I decided to no longer use that.Basically now it is enough for me that I get this process out there.To practise it, write it out at a blog when you feel like it, and feel that it won't cause great offence.But first and foremost, feel it flow through you, just like Abraham Hicks says.You have to feel it, feel that appreciaton.It should never be hard work :)
So this process has four basic steps:
1. Look at something that is in your now, or think of something that you know you have that is in your now.Anything! that is 'real' something that you may just take for granted.Something that you are indifferent about, basically because you've never really thought much about the thing.
2. Think about a contrasting situation.Imagine not having that thing at all.Imagine being in a place where having that thing would not be possible.Ideally imagine a real place that you know of, that you've heard of through the media or read in a book.A place where they just do not have those things, it isn't practical for them to have those things, or they aren't allowed! those things by their governments, etc.Or perhaps their is someone you know who would really like that thing, but who doesn't have it yet.Use whichever way you find best.Only do this enough so that you have the contrast.No need to think on this for a long time, just enough so that you set yourself up for step 4.
3. Now come back to the now! and look again at that thing before you.
4. Fully appreciate the significance of that thing.Feel the appreciation flow though you.You have this thing in your now, and you LOVE IT! :D You're so grateful for having this thing, because you realise what it would be like if you didn't have it.And you know that some others do not have it, therefore you fully appreciate how fortunate you are.
Why this works!
This process works for me.I have been practising it for the last couple of days and found it to be very beneficial.Therefore I felt like sharing this on my blog.I think that this process is powerful because it deals with 'physical reality.' Now we know from Abraham Hicks, as well as others, that everything is just vibes, and that physical things are focused vibes.So when we imagine things, we're thinking those vibes into being, we're focusing them into being.But my way of thinking is this: Leverage the power! Use what has been focused into reality as a tool.What I mean is, sure it's ok to discount reality and live within your own vision, but also I think that that is missing a great opportunity.There are so many blessings around us, no matter who or where you are.Even in a hospital bed you can appreciate that their are people looking after you, and you can appreciate the bed you are lying on.It is simply changing the way we look at things.There are blessings everywhere, you just have to see them.For me it is easier to deal with reality, because there are things around me, physical things, and I have senses which are very responsive to these physical things.Now if you're not like that and you find it easier to live in your vision, you're totally zoned in to some 'other place' then fair enough, good luck to you.I'm sure there are people like that :)
For me though, the physical is a very powerful thing.Perhaps it's because of my Venus in Taurus, maybe so.
A final example
1. As I look out of my window I can see my garden below.
2. I look out over at my neighbours gardens.I can see that their gardens are more exposed to the elements than mine is.Some of the gardens are rather dull with no features.Some don't have any grass at all, just paving.
3. I look back at my garden.
4. I appreciate that my garden has many wonderful plants and flowers in it.I appreciate the luscious green grass that covers it.It has just poured down with rain here, so I know that'll make the grass even greener and the flowers even more magnificent.I also love the pond in our garden, built lovingly by my brother.The fish in the pond are very healthy as he looks after them well.They have magnificent colours of orange, red, white, yellow.Even from the third floor where I am now I can see them shining from the pond at the back of the garden.I love to sit by the pond and contemplate.The waterfall feature is extremely relaxing.Even at night when I go to bed, if I have the windows open I can hear the little waterfall.It's so nice to hear the trickling of water in the background, especially when meditating.Sure you can buy CD's recreating these sounds, but when it's 'real' it sounds so much better.Oh and I know that the fish will appreciate that downpour, as it adds oxygen to the water, so my brother tells me.The garden is situated so that it is also sheltered and much more private.People from neighbouring houses can't easily look in (accidentally or on purpose).I really appreciate that! :)
Ok, wow, I just had to stop myself there.Was going off on a rampage of appreciation (a good thing), hehe.And that's exactly my point! with this process.The first two steps are really just a setup.I have found that I don't need the first two steps after a while.I am able to just look at something and really feel appreciation for it, know it's significance and the value it adds to my life, without needing to even focus on the opposite of that.It is just that sense of knowing! how blessed I am, I'm in that flow, I have attracted more and more things to appreciate.Did I need to go down the street, knock on a neighbours door and tell them why I am glad I have my garden and not theirs? No, funnily enough I never felt compelled to do that.
Finally I would just like to add that all of the above may not do much for you.You may well not like my specific process or the steps, or whatever! To be honest I don't care if you liked them or not.The essence of the above post, and what I would like to think others take from it, is that I am doing what works for me! as you should do for you! Find what works for you, only you! :)
Find a way of 'falling in love again'...........and again.............and again.................:D
Cheers!
Access: PublicTagged with: Appreciation, Love, Society, Universe, Contrast, Africa, Venus, Taurus, Abraham Hicks, Works
abraham hicks
December 2007